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Janeway strode onto the Bridge, a little refreshed after having forced herself to get a few hours sleep the night before. It had been difficult at first, the quarters feeling empty and cold without Sara there. She had thought about her constantly. Where she was. What she was doing and why. Part of her felt a little reassured that Sara was not alone. Harry Kim was probably with her, as was this B'Elanna Torres, Chakotay's Engineer.

Chakotay. When ever she found herself not thinking about Sara, her mind was on her old friend. It was not made easier by the fact that she could see his raider from her quarters. No.

After a while she had found herself drifting to sleep, probably due to sheer exhaustion more then anything else. So she had been forced to get her rest that way.

Now she was back on the Bridge and was heartened to find Tuvok at his familiar post, dressed once more in his black and gold uniform. She had not actually realised how much she had missed his console and calm nature until he was not actually there, but he was back now, but at what cost?

"Hail them," she ordered noticing that they had reached the ship in the middle of all the debris.

There was a pause as she went to stand at the centre of the Bridge hearing the obvious sounds of someone scrambling around, desperately searching for the communications screen. She was some what startled to have a huge freckled face cover the screen, wispy red hair going down the centre of his head, completed by the whiskers on his cheeks. Of all the humanoid species she had ever encountered, Kathryn was sure that he was one of the... how could she put it? Oddest? A fact not helped by the fact his screen obviously would not stay at its proper angle so he was forced to cock his head, trying to assume the most confrontational pose he could muster.

"Who ever you are, I found this waste zone first," he said imperiously.

She stared at him for a moment before replying, "We're not interested in this debris, Mister..." her voice trailing off indicating that she wanted an introduction.

"Neelix," he answered, his posture seeming to suddenly relax as he heard her words. "And since you aren't interested in my debris, I am delighted to meet you..."

She smiled slightly hearing his inflection indicating that he wanted to know her name too.

"Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager."

His eyebrows rose as he nodded. "A very impressive title. I have no idea what it means," he admitted, "but it sounds very impressive."

Well at least this was a start. This Neelix character appeared friendly enough and heaven knows, out here they could do with all the friends they could get.

"Do you know this area of space well Mr Neelix?"

"I am famous for knowing it well." His grin was beginning to get infectious. "How may I be of survive?"

"Do you know anything about the array that's sending energy pulses to the fifth planet?"

He almost appeared to frown slightly. "I know enough to stay as far away from it as possible." Then something crossed his mind. "Wait, let me guess. You were whisked away from somewhere else in the galaxy and brought here against your will."

So this had happened before then. Maybe this guy would be more help to them then she had initially thought.

"Sounds as though you've heard this story before."

He seemed to sigh. "Sadly yes. Thousands of times. Well hundreds of times," he amended. "Maybe fifty times, but the Caretaker has been bringing ships her for months now."

"The Caretaker?"

Was he referring to the entity on the array?

"Well that's what the Ocampa call him."

The Ocampa?

"They live on the fifth planet," he continued. "Did he kidnap members of your crew."

So that's happened before as well.

"As a matter of fact, he did," she replied.

"It's not the first time."

Hope was slowly alighting in her. Maybe he knew where they were.

"Do you know where he might have taken them?"

"Just that they're brought to the Ocampa, nothing more."

Well, at least that was a start.

"We'd appreciate any help you could give us in finding these Ocampa," she offered.

"I... I... I wish that I could help you," he replied, "But as you can see, there is just so much debris for me to investigate today. You'd be surprised the things of value some people abandon."

She smiled nodding. "Of... course..." she replied slowly, "we'd want to compensate you for your trouble."

"Well there's really very little that you could offer me. Unless..." His voice trailed of suddenly.

"Yes?" she asked hopefully.

He was looking a little awkward about voicing his question and she waited patiently trying not to wonder just what it was he needed.

"Unless of course," he repeated, "you had... water."

Water? She turned to gaze quickly at Tuvok behind her wondering if she had heard this funny guy correctly, or is the universal translator was mulfunctioning. Tuvok just rose a very dak Vulcan eyebrow. She returned to the screen.

"If you help us find our missing crewmembers," she offered with a smile, "you can have all the water you want."

"Well," Neelix nodded, "that... that sounds like a very reasonable arrangement."

Good. She prayed that others would be just as easy. Thank god for replicators.

"We'll beam you over and tow your ship into our shuttle bay. Mr Tuvok," she turned and motioned to the door, "go to transporter room two and meet our guest."

"Beam?"

Mr Neelix's face looked a little weary when she face him again. It was obvious that he did not know what a transporter was. Oh great. No replicators and no transporters in this part of the galaxy. Maybe this could be used somehow to their advantage.

"We have a technology that can take you instantly from your ship to ours. It's quite harmless," she reassured. "May we?"

He nodded stepping back from his console, his arms in the air as if he was being threatened with a phaser or something. She gave a slightly chuckle as he disappeared immersed in a blue and silver beam, a look of astonishment on his freckled face.

Well they had made one friend at least and were that tiny bit closer to finding their missing crew members.

*-*-*

"Just out of interest," B'Elanna asked, "but what's your mother's first name?"

"Kathryn."

B'Elanna's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something as the door opened. All eyes snapped up to meet the gaze of the male from earlier. His pixie like ears, were buried deep into his hair and his expression was one of concern, not malice.

"I hope you're feeling better," he offered, electing to speak aloud and not telephatically as they had done earlier. "I know how frightening all this must be for all of you." His eyes moved around them, making contact with each. "I've brought some clothes if you care to change."

"Why are you keeping us here?" B'Elanna snapped, taking a threatening step forward.

"You are not prisoners," he replied quickly, sounding a little more weary. "In fact we consider you honoured guests. The Caretaker has sent you to us. As long as you are not violet, you're free to leave your quarters."

That last statement was quite blatantly directed at the half Klingon, and she scowled turning away.

Harry frowned, thousands of questions suddenly springing to mind. Where were they? What were they doing here? Were these people responsible for bringing them to the Delta Quadrant? Was this another part of the array? Who the hell was the Caretaker? And what were these... things growing on them?

"What's wrong with us?" he finally asked. "What are these things?"

"We really don't know," the alien replied. "You must be hungry," he added, "would you care to join us in the court for a meal?"

Left with little choice, they followed him out. The area seemed to widen drastically after a few yards, into what could be almost called a court yard, had it been outside that was.

"Our food dispensers are right this way."

"We're underground," Harry exclaimed as his mind absorbed all the sights and sounds around him. The high ceiling, the giant screens displaying scenes from tropical paradises to gorgeous sunsets. The way the people dressed in more conservative earthly colours, almost as if they wanted to blend in with the surroundings.

"Our society is subterranean," the alien continued, guiding them across a quod. "We've lived here for over five hundred generations."

"But before that?" B'Elanna questioned, her scientific mind calculating the possibilities of creating an entire civilisation like this. "You lived on the surface?"

The alien nodded. "Until the warming began."

Harry picked up his ears. "The warming?"

"When our surface turned to dust," he explained. "And the Caretaker came to protect us. Our ancient journals tell us he opened a deep chasm in the ground and lead our ancestors to this place. Since then he has provided for all our needs."

Sara flinched, edging herself marginally closer to Harry as she felt the eyes of strangers staring at her.

"Please forgive them," their guide apologised picking up on her apprehension. "They know you've come from the Caretaker. None of us have ever seen him."

"Then how do you know he's real?" Sara questioned suddenly.

The alien smiled. "All you see around you is because of the Caretaker," he offered. "He has provided all of it."

"Does he provide your meals too?" B'Elanna asked, curiosity overshadowing any of the sarcasm that could have been in her tone.

"In fact he does," came the reply. "He designed and built this entire city for us after the warming. The food processors dispense nutritional supplements every four point one intervals." Reaching one, he retrieved some bowls, handing them to them. "It may not offer the exotic taste some of our younger people crave these days," he added with a slight smile at their expressions, "but it meets our needs."

"Is this how the Caretaker communicates with you?" Harry questioned.

"Oh he never communicates directly," Their guide replied leading them on. "We try to interpret his wishes as best we can."

"I'm curious," Harry continued, "to know how you've interpreted the Caretaker's reason for sending us here."

"We believe he must have separated you from you own species for their protection," he offered.

"Their protection?" B'Elanna questioned a cocky tone invading her voice.

"From your illness," he continued. "Perhaps he's trying to prevent a plague."

"We weren't sick till we met your Caretaker," she snapped back.

The alien almost seemed to sigh at that, almost as if because it put an end to their theory. "From time to time," he added, "he asks us to care for people with this disease. It's the least we can do."

"Then there have been others?" Harry jumped in. "Like us?"

"Yes."

"Where are they?" B'Elanna added.

The alien sighed. "Your condition is serious," he said softly. "We don't know how to treat it. I'm afraid the others... did not recover."

*-*-*

*-*-*

Janeway sat in her ready room going over the info that the sensors had picked up on the fifth planet, again. Still no answers. The planet was virtually a desert. Not one river, not one ocean. It had all the characteristics of an M-Class planet, except it was a desert. Strange. In all her experience as a science officer and in command she had never seen a planet like this. It was impossible, yet here it was.

Sighing she sat back wondering if she had missed something important.

The planet appeared populated, but only in a few spots dotted around one main area. The Ocampa? Mr Neelix had said that they inhabited the planet, so it was likely that they were the Ocampa.

The Ocampa? Were they a peaceful people? Or a violent one? And did they have their missing people?

"Tuvok to the Captain."

Sighing she tapped her badge, relieved to have an interruption.

"Go ahead Lieutenant."

"Captain we have reached the fifth planet."

So everything was about to begin then, again.

"I'll be right there."

Striding onto the Bridge, she resumed her customary hands on hips pose as she stood at the centre facing the view screen.

"Hail the Maquis ship," she commanded waiting for Chakotay's handsome face to fill the screen. Presently it did.

"Captain," he nodded politely.

Was that for show, or did he no longer feel anything for her. Quickly she pushed that from her mind.

"Commander I was planning to take a small away team down to the planet along with Mr Neelix, I thought you might like to join us."

He nodded slightly. "I will beam to your ship," and then the screen went blank.

So much for conversation, she thought.

"Mr Tuvok, please escort out guest to transporter room two immediately. Mr Paris," the young man looked up at her from where he stood to one side of the Bridge, "you're with me. Mr Allen, you have the Bridge."

*-*-*

The surface of the planet was hot, stifling hot, the sun blazing down through the clear sky. There was nothing there. Nothing grew, nothing moved, just dust, dust and more dust for as far as the eye could see.

"Why would anyone want to live in a place like this?"

She glanced quickly at Tom as he voiced the same question she had been asking herself for hours. Why?

"The rich cormaline deposits are very much in demand," Neelix informed them as he started to move, walking towards what could be considered some sort of ruin in the distance.

Man it was hot. They had been there only a few minutes and already they were feeling the effects.

Mr Neelix had turned out to be quite an... how could she put it? Odd? character. He was shorter then he had appeared on the screen, but that did not worry Janeway much. It was always a relief to find someone around her own height as normally people were three or four inches taller, even when she wore three inch heals. He had appeared to have cleaned up his appearance and Mr Tuvok assured her, smelled better then before. What had he smelt like in the first place then?

"The Ocampa use it for barter?" she heard Chakotay ask, snapping her mind back to the Ocampa, this planet and cormaline deposits."

"Not the Ocampa," Neelix threw back, "the Kazon-Ogla."

The Kazon who? Had she missed something here?

"The Kazon-Ogla?" she frowned, "who are the Kazon Ogla?"

"They are."

They could make out the ruins clearer now and with it, a bunch of people, all male if Janeway was correct, standing watching them approach. The men were large, tall and wore elaborate headdresses which were wild and unkept, giving them a fierce appearance. As they continued to near, they could make out their faces, their skin the colour of old leather and about as worn. A faint ridge ran down the centre of their foreheads and their over all appearance vaguely reminded Janeway of the Klingons, but not so frightening. And these were the Kazon-Ogla. Then who the hell were the Ocampa?

"Kazon sects control this part of the quadrant," Neelix informed them as they walked. "Some have food, some have water. They all trade and they all kill each other for it."

Oh great, just their luck. The Delta Quadrant version of the Klingons, except probably without the honour bit.

"I thought the Ocampa had our people?" she questioned noticing the way these Kazon appeared to look more and more aggressive as they approached.

"My friends, it's good to see you again," Neelix greeted with that eternal grin on his face, not answering her question.

The Kazon did not appear to think so as they grabbed him dragging him towards the wall of a building. The rest of the away team found themselves powerless to help, their weapons taken from them and forced to sit on the ground.

"I must speak with your Maje, the ever wise Jabin," Neelix continued only to find rifles of some fashion being pointed at his head.

"Very amusing," he joked trying to make light of the dire situation he was currently in. "I enjoy a joke as much as the next man. If you could... Jabin," he called suddenly, wanting to move, but finding the rifles aimed once more at his head. "My old friend."

Another Kazon-Ogla had appeared just as ugly as the others. His tanned skin was darker from the effects of the sun, his clothes dirty and dusty from the fierce conditions. His hair if you could call it that was mattered and dotted with what looked like chunks of debris, but he had an air of command and superiority about him. He *was* their leader.

"Water," Neelix was shouting, "water Jabin, I have water to replace all that I borrowed."

So they had met before. That would explain why the rest of them were so egar to kill him.

"Show then Mr Paris," he urged.

Paris handed this Jabin a small flask of water, trying not to wrinkle up his nose as he caught a whiff of the stink emanating from the Maje.

"Their ship had technology that can make water out of thin air," Neelix continued egar to keep on the right side of the Kazon in an attempt to keep his own life.

Jabin took a swig and looked satisfied to find that it was indeed water.

"You have more," he questioned.

Janeway didn't take hr eyes from him as she reached up to touch her badge.

"Janeway to Voyager. Energise."

A short distance away, two large crates of water appeared as from thin air creating a stir among the Sect.

"There's more from where that came from," she offered, "if you can help us."

Jabin's dark eyes held hers steadily as if trying to read her mind.

"How can we help someone so powerful they can create water out of thin air?" he replied dryly.

"This man," she informed them pointing at Neelix, "led us here suggesting that we might find a people called the Ocampa. Do you know where they are?"

"Ocampa?" he replied and her heart sank a bit at the word, but suddenly he was pointing towards the shadows. "She is Ocampa."

Straining her eyes in the fierce glare of the sunlight, Janeway could just about make out a small figure hidden in the shadows. Short blond hair lay in uneven layers close to her head, desperately unkept, framing her pixie like features. A dark bruise covered one eye and the split lip suggested that Jabin had been mistreating the young girl, for that's what she looked like. Janeway's heart went out to her instantly.

"Why would you be interested in such worthless creatures?" Jabin continued. "They live only nine years. They make poor servants. We caught her when she wandered to the surface?"

"To the surface?" Her head snapped back up to look at Jabin. "You mean they live underground?" Fascinating. An entire culture that spent their lives deep underground.

"The entity in space that gives them food and power, also gives them sole access to the only water on this world," Jabin continued, "two miles below the surface."

The entity in space, she presumed, probably meant the array and the Caretaker or what ever the Ocampa called him.

"This same entity," she added, "has abducted some of our people, we believe they might be with the Ocampa."

"There's no way to get to them," Jabin's voice was sharp, almost sour in tone. "We tried. The entity has established some kind of subterranean barrier. We can not penetrate it."

"But she got out," Chakotay pointed out, from where he sat just behind Janeway, motioning towards the young girl in the doorway.

"Occasionally some of them do find their way to the surface," Jabin growled. "We don't know how, but the Ocampa seal the tunnels afterwards."

This was going no where and Neelix knew that. Frantically he searched for a new method out of this situation.

"Maybe," he began slowly, "she could help these good people find a way down," he offered.

Jabin laughed, sending shivers down the spines of all those that heard.

"You'd be wasting your time," he snapped. "I've tried every method of persuasion I know to get her to help us. She won't."

Well obviously, or they would not be all standing here now, or sitting in the case of the away team.

"Then she's worthless to you," Neelix theorised. "Let us trade water for this scrawny little thing."

Jabin looked at him for a moment, before motioning to the rest of the away team.

"I'd be more interested in acquiring this... technology, that allows you to create water out of thin air."

Janeway's heart sank. Damn, she'd just been hit over the head by the Prime Directive... again.

"That would be difficult," she bluffed, "it's integrated into our ship's system."

Neelix heard the words and his next reaction was on impulse. Grabbing his phaser from Jabin's pocket with one hand, he seized Jabin's arm and pulled it tightly around his back, with the other.

"Tell then to drop their weapons," Neelix shouted noticing how many of the Kazon had rifles pointed at him. "Drop them my friends or he dies in an instant."

Janeway sat very still having noticed how reluctant the Kazon were carrying out the order.

"Do it!" she heard Jabin shouting to his men. "Do it."

They did. As soon as the weapons were on the floor, the away team were back on their feet, them too retrieving their convesgated weapons.

"Step aside," Neelix shouted, pushing Jabin away, firing at the two water containers. Clear, cool liquid gushed from them in an instant, wasted as it fell to the dry soil. The Kazon panicked. Grabbing any container they could, they fought to collect the water slipping through their fingers.

"Come on," Neelix called to the young girl, taking advantage of the mayhem he had created. As she reached them, he wrapped a protective arm around her waist, turning to the Captain. "I strongly suggest that you get us out of here," he advised.

Janeway did not hesitate to comply.

"Six to beam up," she ordered.

Within seconds, the harsh, barbaric yellow landscape disappeared, quickly replaced by the much cooler confines of Voyager's transporter room. Looking around she quickly checked that they were all there before stepping down.

"My dearest, didn't I promise I'd save you?"

She spun round in surprise to find Neelix with his arm still around the newcomer. They were a couple? Someone as attractive and gently as this little Ocampa was actually with old freckled face over there? What was wrong with this quadrant?

Her own surprised amusement was mirrored on the faces of Chakotay and Tom, while Tuvok, so Vulcan like, just simple raised an eyebrow.

Curiouser and curiouser.

As she turned back, she briefly caught Chakotay's eye. For a second she watched as emotions played across his face as he observed the happy couple, but disappeared instantly as he saw her, allowing himself just a slight smile.

Damn!

*-*-*

"Look I'm sure Captain Janeway is doing everything she can to find us," Harry offered, leaning against the wall. They had finally found a dark place in the city where people would not be able to stare at them.

"What makes you think any of them are still alive?" B'Elanna replied, wishing she had held her tongue as she saw the horror that spread across Sara's young features, but she did not have long to worry about that as another sharp strike of pain jagged through her body.

"Should I call for help?" Harry offered laying a hand on her shoulder only to have it shaken quickly off.

"No."

"Are you in pain?"

Looking up they noticed the Ocampa nurse from earlier, as she moved from the shadows.

"Are you watching us?" B'Elanna snapped, losing the battle to keep her temper in check. "I thought we weren't supposed to be your prisoners?"

"I wasn't watching you," she replied gently. "I was coming to give you something." She handed over a small package to Harry. "I don't know if it will help. It's a medicine," she explained. "There are people who have broken from tradition and left the city. Their colony grows fruits and vegetables. They discovered quite accidently that the moss that grows on certain fruit trees have healing properties. I'm sorry for what's happened to you."

"We appreciate this," Harry nodded, "but the only way we're going to survive is if we can get to the surface and find our own people."

"The elders would say that that's against the Caretaker's wishes."

"And what do you say?"

The Ocampa female turned to B'Elanna as she answered her question. "The Caretaker's been acting strangely for the past couple of months. Abducting people, increasing the power supply."

"Power supply?" Harry questioned.

"He's tripled the energy he sends us," she explained. "They say we have enough stored now to run this city for five years."

"And nobody knows why?"

She shook her head. "When we ask," she replied, "we're told to trust the Caretaker's decisions. One person I know did get to the surface. We never saw her again."

"How?"

"The ancient tunnels," she offered, "that brought us here still exist. Over the years small breaches have appeared just large enough for someone to get through. But it still requires digging through metres of rock to get out."

"Can you get us tools to dig with?" B'Elanna questioned her hope rising.

"It'll take days," the Ocampa objected. "Maybe even weeks to break through. You have to rest, conserve your strength."

"Please,' Harry pleaded his dark eyes wide. "it's our only chance."

*-*-*

Janeway found herself in deep thought as she stood in sickbay. The young woman they had just rescued, an Ocampa named Kes was lying on the bed, waiting patiently for the Doctor to heal her wounds. Janeway dreaded to think how she had got them.

Chakotay was there also, off to one side, blending in well with the shadows, but even so, she could still feel his eyes on her as if he was assessing her in some way. She had vowed to ignore him, to just concentrate on finding everyone and getting home, but it was not easy. Maybe he too, like her, was wondering what would have happened if the Cardassians had not attacked.

Blinking she suddenly noticed a slight change in the pitches of the voices around. Tuvok was using his most Vulcan like manor to inform Mr Neelix that had he told them of his plans maybe they we might have anticipated his irrational behaviour. Give it to Tuvok to say things so bluntly.

"Irrational?" she heard the Talaxian object. "We got out of there didn't we?"

Luckily.

"Excuse me, don't blame Neelix." It was the first time Kes had spoken and her voice was soft as she was gentle. A direct contrast to Neelix's heated tone.

"That's enough," the EMH suddenly protested. "This is a sickbay not a conference room. Visiting hours are over. Everyone except my patient is to leave immediately."

"Computer, end holographic medical program." Janeway had had enough of him too. She just prayed that they got home soon so she could get another Chief Medical Officer. This hologram was already starting to get on her nerves.

Crossing her arms, she walked over to where Kes was sat talking to Neelix and Tuvok.

"I never should have gone to the surface," she was saying, her blue eyes wide. "I'm too curious, I'm told it's my worst failing."

"No, no, it's a wonderful quality," Neelix objected, reaching forward to clasp her hand. "Your most endearing."

Was it her, or had Janeway just imagined the fact that Neelix's voice became softer and he calmed quickly when with Kes. So opposites do attract.

"Would you be willing to take us underground to look fo our missing crew?" she asked wondering how her mind had once more drifted back to Chakotay.

"I'm afraid Jabin was right," Kes replied apologetically, "there's no way to get down. The tunnel that I came out of has been sealed."

"We don't need tunnels," Janeway insisted with the feeling that Kes would help them. "We have the ability to beam there directly."

"Captain, our sensors did not pick up any indication of an underground civilisation," Tuvok pointed out. "The subterranean barrier Jabin described may be responsible. It may also block our transporters."

Leave it to Tuvok to throw on the cold water.

"There are breaches in the security barrier where it's begun to decay," Kes offered slowly bringing hope to the group. "That's how I got out."

So far so good.

"Have the transporter room begin a sweep for any breaches we might be able to beam through," Janeway ordered nodding at Tuvok.

Turning back she found Mr Neelix speaking again. "Kes can tell you where to go," he was saying, "but now that's she's free, we're leaving this system together."

Already?

"Neelix," Kes urged, "these people rescued me."

"I rescued you," he objected his orange whiskers bristling.

"With their help." There was a quiet firmness about Kes that almost startled the Captain. "It would be wrong not to help them now."

And so it was settled, just like that.

*-*-*

It was oddly beautiful underground, just small enough for you to be aware of the ceiling, but large enough so that you would not feel claustrophibic.

The six of them were walking through some smaller tunnels, a short distance from where the main civilisation was supposed to be situated. Kes was leading the way, Neelix just behind her, Janeway following, Tom, Chakotay and Tuvok with his tricorder out, just behind her.

They could hear the pulses as they walked, a dull soothing noise every few seconds as the landed just a few miles away. It was odd somehow, how quickly you became accustomed to hearing them until you could almost not notice them at all.

"Captain, the pulses from the array continue to accelerate," Tuvok informed her shutting his bleeping tricorder. "The intervals between them have decreased another eight seconds."

Oh. Absorbing this information, she remembered, but pushed it from her mind as her ears began to pick up other sounds. There were people near by.

The tunnel widened suddenly as they turned a corner and came upon what could almost be called a small farm. Plants grew in long boxes, many of them appearing to be fruits or vegetables.

They were being tended to by a small group of people who looked up hearing on the approaching footsteps. All of them had the same ears as Kes, with short hair giving them an almost pixie like expression. A huge smiled broke out on the nearest one's face as Kes quickly ran into his arms.

"Kes," he smiled.

"Hallo Daggin," she replied pulling away, sensing Neelix's presence somewhere nearby.

"We thought we'd never see you again," Daggin continued glancing over Kes' head at the strangers she was with. "How did you get back?"

"These people rescued me from the Kazon." Moving aside, she motioned to her companions answering his question. "I'm trying to help them find three of their crewmen. Does anyone know where the Aliens are kept, the ones the Caretaker sends here?"

There was silence for a moment, before Daggin ventured a reply.

"I think they'll at the central clinic."

"Can you take us there?"

It was the smaller of the strangers who had spoken, the only female. From her clothes and posture she was unmistakably their leader.

Janeway was startled slightly as she heard a voice echo through her head. Telepathy? Turning they all found what appeared to be an older Ocampa approaching, dressed in a robe of simple earth colours.

"They can not speak telephatically Toscat," Kes almost snapped seeing him. "Please talk aloud."

"I didn't mean to be rude," he apologised as he reached them, "but you shouldn't be here."

"We'd be glad to leave," Janeway offered, "once we find our crewmembers."

"That won't be possible," he objected. "We can not interfere with the Caretaker's wishes."

"Maybe you can't," Chakotay pointed out, positioning himself just a bit behind Kathryn, "but we can."

"You don't understand..." Toscat replied adamant.

"That's right they don't understand," Kes picked up her gentle eyes blazing. "They have no way of knowing that the Ocampa have been dependent on the Caretaker for so long, we can't even think for ourselves any more. They don't understand that we were once a people who had full command of our mind's abilities."

"The stories of our ancestors abilities are hypocriful, at the very least exaggerated," Toscat objected.

"We lost those abilities because we stopped using them."

Toscat appeared unfazed by what was being said.

"We should not dwell on what's been lost," he pointed out, "but all that's been gained."

"We've gained a talent for dependence. For simply taking what we're given." Everyone could hear the passion in the young Ocampa's voice. "I'm going to help them Toscat," Kes continued, "whether you like it or not and I think my friends will join me."

Janeway could see that this elder Ocampa was not used to being talked to in such a fashion as he stepped in front of his adversary.

"You defy the Caretaker by going to the surface Kes," he reminded, "learn from the experience, follow the path he has set for us."

Kes' eyes seemed to alight at that comment.

"I've learned very well Toscat," she objected. "I saw the sunlight. I can't believe our Caretaker would forbid us to open our eyes and see the sky. Come with me," she called to the away team, this conversation seemingly closed, "we'll find your people."

*-*-*

Sara gripped tightly to the hand rail as she slowly continued to pull themselves up the stairs. They had come so far in the hours, yet the top seemed to appear no closer. Panting hard, she tried to catch her breath as she clung onto her bear.

"B'Elanna," she suddenly called looking up at the half Klingon a few steps above her. "What were you going to say about my mummy?" she asked. "When you asked me what her name was?"

"Oh," B'Elanna called glancing briefly over her shoulder at the young girl watching her intently. "Nothing important."

"But I would still like to know," Sara replied, taking a quick few steps to draw her level with the half Klingon.

"Yeah," Harry called from slightly further down. "I would like to know too, take our minds off this climbing."

B'Elanna just shrugged gently.

"Oh it was just that I once heard Chakotay say the name 'Kathryn' when he was asleep. Next morning I caught him gazing out of a view port, fiddling with a ring he keeps on a chain around his neck, but when I questioned him on it, he just seemed to shut down all together, go all defensive and not reply. Now I see why..."

Stumbling, Harry lost his footing and landed on the stairs, gasping as the pain suddenly intensified again.

"Come on," B'Elanna called also stopping. "Don't let it beat you Starfleet. Come on."

"I'm sorry," he called hoarsely, not moving.

"Alright," B'Elanna breathed, glancing at the young girl beside her who had also stopped. "It's alright, we'll rest a minute."

Descending a few stairs, she sat just above him, drawing in her own deep breaths.

"Maybe I'll do better with a little Klingon blood in me," he smiled weakly.

"Trust me," she called back. "It's more trouble then it's worth."

"You know," he spoke bitterly as the reality of the situation finally hit home. "I spent my whole life getting ready for Starfleet and on my very first mission, I'm going to die."

"We're not finished yet," B'Elanna objected noticing the way Sara's eyes were slowly beginning to close. "I know a few things that old Sneezy didn't teach in his survival course."

"Sneezy?"

"Commander Zacarian," she elaborated. "Remember? He must have been allergic to everything."

"You went to the academy?"

She nodded. "Actually made it into the second year before we... urm... mutually agreed it wasn't the place for me."

"You know," he offered trying to pull himself up, "I never really liked Zacarian."

Stopping, he froze as something suddenly changed. The pulses in the distance.

"Shush," B'Elanna motioned. "Listen, they're getting faster."

*-*-*

Janeway was once more deep in thought as she travelled up some sort of escalator. To stop herself worrying about Sara, or what Chakotay was thinking, she busied herself with this situation. What was this strange relationship between the Ocampa and this Caretaker as they so call named him? Why was the Caretaker kidnapping people? What purpose did the pulses serve and why were they speeding up?

What the?...

Her head snapped up as the familiar hum of the pulses suddenly quickened once more, faster and faster until...

They stopped.

Everything suddenly fell deadly quiet, too quiet.

"Away team to Voyager," she snapped slapping her comm badge.

"Voyager here."

"What going on with the array?"

There was a pause before Mr Allen's reply.

"It's no longer sending out pulses Captain," he replied, "and it appears to be realigning its position."

Great.

"Keep me informed," she ordered, "Janeway out."

Reaching the top, they turned hearing footsteps hurrying towards them. It was Daggin and Kes, just returned from checking the clinic. They weren't there. She could see it immediately on her face.

"They haven't been at the clinic for hours," Kes informed them.

"We could search the city, ask if anyone's seen them," Daggin offered helpfully.

Janeway was not so sure. There was something not quite right here, she could sense it. The sooner they found them and returned to Voyager, the better. So think Kathryn, think. What would you do in their situation.?

"If they were trying to get to the surface," she asked slowly, "how would they go?"

"Probably the same way I did," Kes replied softly, "up one of the ancient tunnels."

That was where they were, she could feel it.

"Mr Paris, you and Neelix go with her and start checking them out," she ordered.

Fighting the urge to join them, she watched as Tom and Neelix nodded before quickly leaving, but there were more important things for her to do. Quickly she turned to Chakotay and Tuvok, shifting her gaze quickly as she did not have to meet Chakotay's gaze.

"We need to talk to every doctor and nurse at this hospital," she explained. "See what they can tell us about Sara, Torres and Kim."

Chakotay was stunned as he followed after Tuvok and Kathryn. Sara? She had a daughter named Sara? Just thinking about that name brought a smile to his lips, but memories also flooded back. Darra, Phil and Jack. Did Kathryn remember them also?

He was literally shaken from his thoughts as the ground shuddered around him. The three of them stopped their hike, staying still so they could keep their balance.

"Voyager to Janeway."

"Go ahead."

"Captain, the array is firing some kind of weapon at the surface. It seems to be trying to seal the energy conduits."

Great, great, great.

"Understood. Keep a channel open."

Even if Kathryn understood, Chakotay knew that he was far from it.

"The array is the Ocampa's souls source of energy," he pointed out as they picked up pace once again. "Why would the Caretaker seal the conduits?"

"He would seal them if he no longer intended to use them," Tuvok injected. "To protect the Ocampa from their enemies. Captain there is now enough evidence to form a reasonable hypothesis. I believe the Caretaker is dying."

Janeway frowned as she heard it. "Explain."

"First," Tuvok reasoned, "he increased the energy supply to provide the city with a surplus to last at least five years. Second, he sealed the conduits. The logical conclusion is that he does not intend to continue his role as Caretaker."

Logic, logic, logic.

"That doesn't necessary mean he's dying," Chakotay pointed out, "he could be leaving."

"Doubtful," the Vulcan replied, "not after a Millenium of providing for these people. I believe the Caretaker owes something to the Ocampa. I believe the dept that can never be repaid is very likely a dept to them. In addition, there were his frequent references to 'running out of time'. I think he knows his death was immanent."

Oh great.

"If he dies," Janeway added dully, "How the hell are we supposed to get home?"

*-*-*

Paris' tricorder began to bleep as they reached yet another tunnel.

"They're in this one," he announced practically running to the bottom of the stairs, closely followed by Neelix and Kes. "Harry," he called. "Paris to Janeway," he slapped his badge.

"Go ahead."

Did her tone ever change?

"They're in one of the tunnels Captain," he announced cheerfully. "I can't see them, but they're there. We're going after them."

This time there was no mistaking the relief in her voice.

"Call for transport when you have them Mr Paris," she ordered, "we'll meet you on the ship."

The comm line closing, Paris continued his flight up the stairs, picking up his pace. He could see them now. Two figures near the top. No wait, three, he could see all three of them now. Harry, Torres and who? The Captain's daughter?

"Janeway to Paris."

Speak of the devil.

"Go ahead."

"The transporters aren't working. You'll going to have to find a breach in the security barrier when you get to the top."

Oh ****. This would happen now wouldn't it.

"Understood," he replied instead.

"We're a few minutes behind you. Janeway out."

"I see them," Tom announced as they finally rounded another corner.

Harry was shattered as he sat on a step, all his energy seeming to seep away. In his arms he cradled the body of a half Maquis, half Starfleet young girl, herself too weak to move. B'Elanna was just above, slumped also on a step.

"Took you long enough," he called dryly as the small team reached them. Tom, a strange looking freckled guy and a young, pretty pixie looking Ocampa female. So they had had some help then.

"How could I let down the only friend I've got?" Tom joked as he bent down beside him.

"Friend?" Harry objected as Sara was lifted from his lap. "What makes you think that I'm your friend?" but there was a hint of humour in his voice.

"Who's this?" Tom asked, carefully lying Sara over one of his shoulders, holding her across her legs, her teddy and picture still clenched tightly in her hand.

"Captain Janeway's daughter," Harry replied as he and B'Elanna were helped to their feet.

"Who's her father?" Tom joked dryly. "Commander Chakotay?"

Harry nodded. "Bulls eye."

Tom's mouth almost dropped open, but recovering rapidly he tapped his comm badge.

"Paris to Janeway."

"Go ahead."

"We've found them Captain."

Her voice flooded with relief as she answered.

"Don't wait for us," she ordered reaching the bottom of the stairs, starting the vast climb to the top. "Get them to safety."

Kes gently helped B'Elanna to her feet, supporting the half Klingon's weight on her slight frame.

"Don't worry," she called as they began climbing again. "I know where we can get through the barrier."

A minute or two later, they reached it. A pink shimmering thing reminding Paris of a force field.

"What ever you do, don't touch it," Kes warned, easing herself through the gap, just big enough for one person to pass. "We've been told it would burn your skin off."

Easing Sara off his shoulder, Tom gently shook her, startled to find two dark eyes opening to gaze up at him. My god she looks like her parents, he thought. Her eyes were almost frightening copies of her father, just a little lighter, and her hair, long like her mothers but dark like Chakotay. Her presence and the way she held herself, especially her chin was the Captain through and through.

"Mummy?" she asked almost sleepily.

"Just coming," he replied as he directed her through the gap, before following himself.

Joining the group, he picked her up once more, continuing till they reached a dead end. They could go no further.

"I think we've reached the top," he announced putting Sara down once more. "Neelix get out your phaser."

Aiming at the roof, they fired, rocks tumbling down towards them. Coughing slightly, they peered through the dust, relieved to see sunlight for the first time in what seemed like a life time.

One at a time they scrambled up, greeted by the glaring light of the desert sun.

"Voyager, can you get a lock on us now/" Tom asked tapping his badge.

"Affirmative," came the reply, "but I'm only reading six signals."

"They others are..." but Tom didn't finish. Looking up he saw a light streaking across the sky towards them. "Get down," he called dropping to the floor himself, bringing Sara with him. The Earth shuddered under them as impact occurred, and then nothing.

"Paris to Janeway." There was no answer. "Chakotay, Tuvok, do you read?"

Oh ****, this did not look good. He recognised the look of fear painted across the young girl's face. A fear he knew too well.

"Voyager," he called, "prepare to transport everyone in this group, except me."

"Aye sir."

Releasing Sara, he moved to return to the hole they had just come from.

"You're not thinking of going back there?" It was Neelix's voice stopping him.

Tom just nodded.

"Well, if the fool needs company," he added. "Take care fo them dearest," he nodded to Kes, "I'll see you later."

"Voyager, make that four to beam up," Tom amended, grabbing the comm badge from Neelix's shirt. "Lock onto the other comm badge and energise."

He watched as they slowly disappeared, Sara's imploring look of helplessness the last thing he saw. He would get her parents back. He had to.

*-*-*

The metal stair rocked dangerously and Janeway found herself being thrown to the floor. What the hell was that? Scrambling to her feet, she quickly assessed the situation. Tuvok was struggling beside her, Chakotay on the other hand had been thrown down a short flight of stairs, his leg trapped awkwardly by a loose metal rod. Dumb struck for a moment she watched as he clung to the rails just above his head, groaning as small tremors continued to shake the support.

"My leg's broken," he rasped as he saw her looking at him. "I can't move."

"Hold on," she called supporting Tuvok to his feet. She was torn apart. She wanted to help Chakotay, but she was in no position to do so. Oh god.

Hearing a voice, she found the help she needed.

"Neelix, help me with Tuvok," she called gripping onto the wall as the stairs rocked again.

"I'll get Chakotay," Paris called. Damn.

Tentative he edged forward. The platform he was on was still quite stable, as was the platform Chakotay sat on. The staircase between them though was another matter. Metal squeaked as he stepped cautiously onto it.

"Get out of here Paris," he heard Chakotay call, "Before the whole thing comes down." This from the same man who had challenged him on Voyager's bridge, accusing him with betrayal.

"I intent to," he called back. "As soon as I get you up."

****. The stairs rocked dangerously, forcing Tom to grab a railing.

"You get on those stairs they'll collapse," Chakotay shouted. "We'll both die."

Well dying would be preferable to having to face your daughter or the Captain again and explain that you're at the bottom of an alien sixty foot stairwell having dropped from the top, Tom thought.

"Yeah," he counterpointed. "But on the other hand, if I save your butt, your life belongs to me. Isn't that some Indian custom?"

"Wrong tribe."

Tom almost smiled, a way of covering his prayers as he moved to Chakotay's platform.

"I don't belive you," he replied reaching his former Captain. "You'd rather die them me be the one to rescue you."

Chakotay's glare was deadly. "Fine," he growled, slinging his arm over Tom's shoulder to pull himself up. "If I have to die at least I'll have the pleasure of watching you go with me."

Tom grimaced as he staggered back up the rocking stairs now only held onto the wall by half a hinge.

"What and miss out on seeing your daughter grow up?"

Chakotay froze, literally, not the best thing when the only thing between you and death was a few screws coming loose.

"What did you say?"

Still moving, Tom knew his suspicions were correct. Chakotay really didn't know anything about Sara. The Captain had never told him.

"What the Captain never tell you? Well congratulations, you're a father. She has your eyes, but luckily nothing else."

With one more step they made it to safety and a second later (as it does on all of those films Tom enjoyed reinacting in the holodeck from the twentieth century) the stairs gave way, falling down with a sickening crash.

*-*-*

Janeway could not hold Sara any closer if she tried. She was safe. They were all safe. She had never been so relieved then the moment she saw Chakotay's hands pull himself out of the hole, the sunlight reflecting from his bronze skin. Now they were all back on Voyager. Harry, B'Elanna and Sara had all been treated for their condition. Chakotay's leg was being healed and Tuvok's injuries had been taken care of. Everything was alright again.

Or was it?

"Bridge to Janeway."

"Go ahead."

"Captain, two Kazon ships are approaching the array."

Releasing Sara, she moved away.

"Set a course," she ordered, "I'm on my way. Doctor can you keep an eye on Sara for me," she called over her shoulder as she left. "Thank you."

"Wait," he protested. "I'm a Doctor not a nanny," but she was gone.

His eyes still firmly on the person Paris had said was his daughter, Chakotay swung his legs off the bed. God she looks like Kathryn, he thought. Feeling B'Elanna's hand on his shoulder he turned away.

"We've got to get back to our ship," he said softly, but with an air of command about it.

"I strongly advice you rest," the EMH protested. "I will not be held responsible for any consequences," but they were leaving.

Looking down, Chakotay noticed something on the floor. Picking it up, he glanced at it, his heart almost constricting. It was a picture. Recovering swiftly, he quickly left sickbay, the picture in his hand.

*-*-*

"Bring the weapons systems back on line."

The air was charged the instant Janeway stepped onto the Bridge.

"Powering up phaser banks and photon systems," Tuvok announced.

"Red alert."

Taking her seat, she looked up at the screen in front of her, hands clasped over the sides of the chair.

"The lead Kazon ship is hailing us Captain."

"On screen," she ordered.

The blank screen disappeared, revealing the head of the Kazon leader, Maje Jabin.

"Have you come to investigate the entities strange behaviour too Captain?"

"All we care about is getting home Jabin," she replied coolly. "We're about to transport over to the array to see if we can arrange it."

"I'm afraid I can not permit that."

That was what she was hoping he would not say.

"We have no dispute with you," she urged again.

"I have a dispute with anyone who would challenge us."

What! "This is ridiculous," she snapped, striding forward to lean on the bar between her and helm. "We have no intention of challenging you."

"And I have no intention of letting anyone with your technological knowledge board the array," he answered.

This was getting no where. She just could not seem to get through to him at all.

"Jabin," she called trying to control her temper. "Can we discuss this like two civilised..."

The view screen blanked, his head replaced by the sight of the two Kazon ships. What the...

"They're powering weapons," Tuvok called answering her silent question.

"I guess we can't..." she muttered gripping the railing to keep her balance as phaser fire hit the ship.

"Shields are holding," Tuvok called from behind as she turned to return to her seat.

"Fire phasers, evasive pattern delta four."

The Maquis!

Slapping her badge her mind got to work.

"Janeway to Chakotay," it was almost like old times again. "Tuvok and I are beaming over to the array, can you hold off the Kazon."

"I think so Captain," he quickly replied.

"Good. Mr Paris." Turning she laid a hand on the young man's shoulder. Time for him to redeem himself fully. "Take the comm."

The surprised look of pleasure on his face was all she needed to know that she had made the right decision.

"Yes Ma'am."

With one last look, she strode away, motioning for Mr Allen to take tactical as Tuvok vacated it.

"Maintain transporter locks Ensign," she ordered stepping into the turbolift. "Emergency beam out status."

"Aye Captain," Harry replied, his voice drifting to her just before the doors slid shut.

*-*-*

The sun was still shining in the artificial sky, yet the whole place seemed quieter, more solemn then when they had beamed to the array the last time.

"The data processing system is behind this wall Captain."

Looking up she nodded at Tuvok as her own tricorder picked up the readings. "You know what to do," she ordered. Leaving him, she continued her own quest, following the faint sounds of a guitar being strung. Rounding the edge of the farm house, she finally saw him. The old man resting on a bench in the shade, mournfully strumming at a banjo like instrument. He seemed to hear her approaching and soon looked up.

"We'll you're nothing if not persistent," he offered.

Reaching him, she stopped, gently gazing down upon him.

"We need you to send us back where we came from," she admitted folding her arms.

"But that's impossible," he objected. "I've barely enough strength to complete my work."

"You're sealing the conduits before you die," she frowned piecing it all together.

"If I don't, the Kazon will steal the water," he replied. "But... in a few years, when the Ocampa's energy runs out, it won't matter. They'll be forced to come to the surface and they won't be able to survive."

Survive? Their planet, the lack of water, the Caretaker. It was all, little by little, beginning to make sense to her now.

"Something you did turned their planet into a desert, didn't it?" she theorized. "That was the debt that could never be repaid."

"We're explorers," he rationalized, "from another galaxy. But we had no idea that our technology would be so destructive to their atmosphere. Two... two of us were chosen to stay behind and care for them."

Two?

"There's another like you here?" she questioned.

"Well," he seemed to frown. "Not any more. No, she went off to look for more interesting places."

Damn, she thought, but what about all the other things though?

"Why were you brining ships here?" she questioned. "Infecting people with a fatal illness?"

"Oh they didn't die from an illness," he objected. "They died because they were not compatible."

"Compatible?"

"I've been searching the galaxy for a compatible bio-molecular pattern. Now in some individuals I found cellular structures that were smiliar, but I..."

"You've been trying to procreate?" she interrupted in surprise.

"I needed someone to replace me," he explained. "Someone who would understand the enormous responsibility of caring for the Ocampa. Only my offspring could do that."

She frowned. "Did you ever consider allowing the Ocampa to care for themselves?"

"But they're children!" he exclaimed.

"Even children have to grow up," she replied dryly, thinking of her own daughter. How many more years would Sara need her as a mother for, before, she too, grows up? "We're explorers too," she continued pushing those thoughts from her mind. "Most of the species we've encountered have overcome all kinds of adversities without a Caretaker. It's the challenge of surviving on their own that helps them to evolve. Maybe your 'children' will do better then you think."

Before a reply could come, her comm badge cheeped, it was Harry on Voyager.

"Go ahead," she called.

"We've got problems here Captain," he replied, the line beginning to break up a little as she heard some phaser fire hit the ship. "The Kazon just got some back ups."

Damn.

"We need more time," she called back, trying not to wince at the sound of a console exploding somewhere nearby. "Can you hold them up for another few minutes?"

"We'll do our best," cam the reply. "Kim out."

Turning she heard Tuvok approaching from behind.

"Captain," he announced, "I can access the system to send us back to Federation Space, but it will take several hours to activate."

Oh just great!

"Unless you can help us," she offered firmly, turning to face the old man.

"I wish I could," he shrugged, "but I have very little time left, so I have initiated a self destruct program."

A what?

"If you destroy the array, we'll have no way to get home," she replied, her voice taking an almost desperate edge to it.

"The Ocampa's enemies can not be allowed to... to control this installation," he replied. "In minutes it will be destroyed. You must go. Go... now!"

Opening her mouth to protest, Janeway found it closing as she felt the entire structure rock and groan around her. Then a faint hum as the trees, the sky, the farmhouse and the old man himself disappeared to be replaced by a metallic ceiling and walls and a large red looking blob.

"The Caretaker?" Tuvok questioned as they both stared at it. Apparently so.

Turning slightly away, Janeway quickly slapped her comm badge.

"Voyager report."

It was Paris who responded this time.

"Kazon just collided with the array Captain," he explained. "Are you alright?"

"Affirmative," she nodded. "Stand by."

"The self destruct program has been damaged," a weak voice said, seeming to come from the Caretaker. "Now this installation will not be destroyed."

Was it her, but Janeway was sure that the Caretaker was shrinking.

"But it must be," he rasped, his voice becoming gradually weaker and weaker until it sounded strangulated. "The Kazon... must not be... allowed to gain control... of it. They will... annihilate... the Ooooccompa."

With that he seemed to die, forming just what looked to be a hard rock like structure.

Intrigued, Janeway bend town, cautiously stretching out a hand. It was coddly old, like a stone or rock. Carefully she picked it up, turning it in her hand surprised at how heavy it was.

"Shall I activate the program to get us back?" Tuvok asked softly from behind her.

"And what happens to the Ocampa after we're gone?" she asked softly.

"Captain," Tuvok objected. "Any action we take to protect the Ocampa would affect the balance of power in this system. The Prime Directive would seem to apply."

Oh the Prime Directive again. The moral compass the Federation adhered to. The bible of Starfleet. The dictation of black and white, never clear on the grey. And this certainly was a grey area.

"Would it?" she asked, rising to her feet to look at him, the reminisce of the Caretaker still gripped in her grasp. "We never asked to be involved Tuvok," she whispered softly. "But we are... we are."

*-*-*

Janeway strode onto the Bridge, a new purpose directing her actions and emotions. There was not time to think. She only just registered the fact that Chakotay was there rather on his raider, as the order slipped from her lips.

"Mr Tuvok, ready the tribolt devices."

"Aye Captain."

This was it. She was about to commit the whole crew to her cause, all of them, Starfleet and Maquis.

"Open a channel to the Kazon."

Within seconds the head of Jabin appeared. A head that she would no doubt see again many times.

"Channel open," Tuvok replied.

"Be advised Captain," Jabin warned, an almost smug look on his rough features. "I have called for additional ships."

It was a warning, a reminder. They were alone out here. Far away from Starfleet. Far from the Federation space. They would be at the mercy of whoever they met. Was this a thing she was willing to do?

"I'm calling to warn you to move your vessels to a safe distance," she replied. Her mind was sat. Nothing would change it now. "I intend to destroy the array."

Shock registered briefly on Jabin's face, but was carefully masked.

"You can't do that," he objected.

"I can and I will," she replied firmly. "End transmission."

The screen returned to the view of the array just in time to see bright bolts of light racing towards them. Gripping onto the rail near the front, Janeway steadied herself, fully aware that she was the centre of attention.

"They're increasing fire Captain," Tuvok called back. "Shields are holding."

The moment was approaching. It was now or never.

"Move us four hundred kilometres from the array Mr Paris," she ordered, positioning herself behind him. Chakotay was nearby, watching her intently as he rested his foot against a console.

"Yes Ma'am," Paris replied. Crunch time.

"What do you think you're doing?" B'Elanna had had enough. She had been quiet for the proceedings so far, but no more. Springing from her position she challenged this Captain Janeway, not caring about her connection to Harry, Sara or Chakotay. All that mattered was this stupid idea she was planning to implement. Who the hell did she think she was any way?

"That array is the only way we have to get back home," she snapped, her dark eyes blazing.

Janeway was calm as she stood up to the half Klingon. So this was the B'Elanna Torres Chakotay had spoken so highly of.

"I'm aware everyone has families and loved ones at home that they want to get back to," she replied softly, "so do I, but I'm not willing to trade the lives of the Ocampa for our convenience. We'll have to find another way home."

Another way home!

B'Elanna was after her in a flash, not willing for this argument to be over so soon.

"What other way home there?" she snapped, moving to reach Janeway, stopped sharply as an arm snaked up to grip firmly to her top, preventing her movement forward. Her blazing eyes lowered to meet the calm, but strong gaze of her Commanding officer. "Who's she to make these decisions for all of us," she growled at Chakotay.

"She's the Captain," he replied simply, his soft voice stilling the Klingon's temper.

B'Elanna stared at him, roughly pulling herself away from his grasp.

"As if you have much to go back to," she snapped, roughly pushing dark hair from her eyes. "You were going to be turning in by a former lover and mother of your child."

The silence on the Bridge at that moment as the words sank in was deafening to all who heard.

Janeway was stunned as her silent gaze met with Chakotay's a stunned look on each of their faces. Neither had looked at the situation like that before. ****, not now, she thought. Not now.

Swallowing, Janeway reacted the only was she knew how. She turned and asked about the status of the tribolt devices.

"The tribolt devices are ready," Tuvok replied, seemingly oblivious to what was going on around.

"We're in position," Tom announced, throwing a quick glare at the Klingon. Who was she to question the decisions made by a senior officer? Chakotay had already made his decission to destroy his own raider to defeat the Kazon, now though, while on Voyager, Janeway was in charge.

Attentions snapped back to the screen as Kazon phaser fire once more rocked the ship and Janeway spoke the word that would forever alter the course of each other their lives.

"Fire."

Two devices streaked from the ship, bright against the black back drop of space. Till... Bright light lit up the screen, forcing everyone to squint for a moment as where the array once stood, nothing had replaced. The next chapter in their lives would start from then on.

"The lead Kazon ship is hailing us," Harry said softly, his voice sounding a little heavy with emotion.

"On screen," Janeway ordered softly.

Jabin's face appeared, grave at the moment.

"You have made an enemy today," he announced, the screen going blank.

"They are withdrawing Captain," Tuvok announced and just like that, it was over.

*-*-*

Sara was panicking. She had lost Mummy’s photo somewhere, but she could not figure out where. Oh boy she was in trouble.

Sickbay.

Sickbay was were she had had it last. But what about after that? She had racked her brain but had failed to come up with anything else, so it had to be here somewhere. But where?

"Looking for this?"

Looking up her eyes met with identical darker ones and her heart missed a beat. This was it, the moment she had envisioned since this mission had began, yet she found herself speechless to say the least. Noticing the picture grasped in his hand, relief flooded over her as she nodded.

Chakotay stared, bending down next to his... daughter? Now that had an odd ring to it did it not?

"Sara isn’t it?" he asked softly, eyeing her features. God how much she resembles Kathryn.

She nodded dumbly.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked curious to find out just how much she knew.

"You’re the one Mummy speaks of little, but thinks of always," she replied suddenly. "You’re the one she cried for when she thought you were dead and cried for even more when she found out that you were alive. You’re the one she truly loved and you’re the one who gave her the best gift in the world. You gave her me."

Chakotay was silent for a moment. In fact, Chakotay was shocked into silence. Of all the answers from a... a what? Nine year old?

"You’re nine aren’t you?" he found himself asking her.

She shook her head.

"Eight," she replied, "nine next month."

Of all the answers, he thought again, for an almost nine year old to come up with in response to his question, that had got to be the most unlikely. Except there it was and here she was too, stood in front of him, her brown eyes keen and sparkling with intelligence.

Within seconds he found small arms flung around his neck and a kiss planted on his cheek as she pulled herself close for a hug. He replied gripping her slight frame in his arms, not believing what was really going on.

"You’re crying," she frowned, using her little fingers to brush away a lone tear. "Why are you crying?"

He had to laugh slightly, or the emotions of the situation would truly get the better of him.

"I’m happy," he stated simply. "Three days ago, I believed that I would never see your mother again. Now I found out that she is alive and that I have a daughter, a beautiful, perfect little girl. I’ve... I’ve got to be the luckiest man in the world, because I have you."

She smiled as her little hand reached up to stroke his face."I love you too," was all she said before gripping his hand and pulling him to the door.

Caught off guard, Chakotay could only follow as she led him through Voyager’s corridors.

"Where are we going?" he asked a little amused.

"Home," she replied. "To find Mummy."

*-*-*

Kathryn still had a lot on her mind, her daughter's disappearance from their quarters only one of them. She had destroyed the only real method of getting home. The only other way would be to travel the 75,000 light years back to Federation Space using more conventional means. Oh great, even at maximum warp it would take seventy-five years to get home. Seventy-five years. And on top of that, she had no First Officer, no Chief Engineer, thirty or so Maquis haters of Starfleet and everything related to it on board after their raider had been destroyed while defending Voyager from the Kazon, and one former lover named Chakotay.

She let out as aspirated sigh, hoping that somehow this headache would fade and soon.

Grabbing a few PADDs, she pulled the clips from her hair, and collapsed onto the bed, just in time to hear the door swish open.

"Sara, is that you?" she called tiredly, pulling herself up and making her way to the entrance of her bedroom. There she stopped and stared.

"Look who I found," Sara replied cheerfully, still gripping her father's hand.

"Chakotay..." was all she could say.

Sara looked wildly from each of them watching the stunned looks on their faces.

"I'm going to get ready for bed," she announced suddenly, disappearing into her room, her exit barely noticed.

"I better be going too..." Chakotay said slowly, his gaze stilled fixed on his... what? Former lover? as she stood in a doorway, her hair loose over her shoulder just as he remembered it in his dreams. Was this a dream? Turning he forced himself to move.

"Don't..." a voice stopped him. "Please... don't go."

He didn't. He found he could not bring himself to take those steps forward and leave her. He could never leave her again.

Turning back, he found her closer then before, as he blue eyes continued to gaze into his own as if searching for some allusive meaning deep within them.

"For nearly ten years," she whispered hoarsely, shattering the silence that had fallen. "Ten years... I have thought of, dreampt of and imagined this moment, now through..."

"Kathryn..." he spoke her name for the first time aloud in years.

"Shush," she replied resting a finger gently to his lips. As he stilled, she slowly moved it, running her fingers softly over his face, his lips, cheeks, eyes and gently up to trace the lines of his tattoo. A symbol, a reminder that he was not the man she had known all those years before.

"It's really you isn't it," she asked gently, a smile ghosting at the edges of her lips.

"Yes," he replied resting his palm against the side of her cheek, "it's really me."

Turning but keeping hold of his hand, she moved them to the couch, taking a seat. Feelings she had not felt in years, nearly ten years to be exact, were coming rushing back at his close proximity.

"Kathryn," she spoke softly, "what happened? Engineering? The ship... it exploded. How?"

She gazed at him, before her head briefly dropped to inspect the way their hands were clasped together.

"I was on the Bridge," she replied briefly. "Admiral... Captain Paris, had called for me to take a look at some readings the sensors had picked up. Then the attack came. I don't remember much about it, except that it happened quickly and suddenly.

"The Captain called for red alert just as a volley of shots rained in. I was told later that the Cardassian cruiser had been lying in wait behind a nearby moon. We had no chance. Our weapons were useless, our shields failing as the Cardassian phaser fire cut right through us. Consoles were exploding, beams fell. I watched helpless as Lieutenant Dawson was thrown through the air, hitting a bulk head with a sickening crunch."

She seemed to physically flinch as she spoke, almost as if she was replaying the whole episode in her mind.

"It was the first time I had watched a crewman be killed, but not the last. The next thing I remember was the Captain giving the order to abandon ship. I knew then that the situation was bad, yet the only thing I could think about was you."

She glanced up at him, her blue eyes clear as she met his gaze.

"It seemed strange," she admitted, "that admist all the chaos, the burning wires, the falling beams and the flashing lights, all I could think of was whether you were safe or not. I was not worried about me, the Captain, or the ship, just you.

"After that the whole thing is a blur. I know some of the pods were launched, but not all. Shields failed and for that moment I truly believed that it was all over. I could almost hear the ship exploding around me and then nothing.

"I awoke in a dark, damp, tight cell. I couldn't move, couldn't see, yet felt as if I wasn't alone. I weren't. A few of us had been beamed off the Al-Batarny just before it exploded, mainly the Bridge crew. Captain Paris, Commander Maddox, Lieutenant Riker, a few others and myself. At first I was relieved to be alive, but that didn't last long. It was a Cardassian prison camp, designed to break the will of others. It was hell. No food, no drink, having to listen to the tortured screams of fellow prisoners both day and night, I slowly began to lose the will to live and probably would have given up completely had it not been for the faint glimmer of hope that prayed that you were still alive."

She was staring into space now, not bold enough to meet his eyes.

"Eventually we were rescued by a group of elite officers. The first thing I did was look to see if you were among the survivors. You weren't. With all my hopes shattered in one go, I fell into a major depression, not helped by the death of my father a few weeks later."

Chakotay didn't know what to say. He was literally stunned.

"I'm sorry Kathryn," was all he could manage.

Hearing his voice she broke out of her memories to finally look at him.

"Don't be," she replied squeezing his hand. "You still left me with the greatest gift. If I hadn't found out I was pregnant, I may never have snapped out of the depression. It... you gave me something to live for... our daughter. From then on I would always have something to remember you by."

"That and this picture..." he smiled

Kathryn's eyes widened as she saw the picture in his hand.

"Where did you..." but she had not even finished before the answer fell to her. "Sara," she groaned.

He nodded, she rolled her eyes.

"What about you," she quickly continued. "How did you survive?"

Sighing he lent back, falling deep into the memories he had tried hard to forget.

"I was on my way to Engineering," he replied softly. "I'm not sure why, but not having seen you since the night before when you have fallen asleep with your head on my shoulder, part of me would have made up any excuse to see you again. So I was making my way there when red alert sounded. We were under attack and from the way the ship shook, I knew that we were taking it pretty hard, especially Engineering. Black smoke was billowing out of it and I searched through, hoping to see you amongst the engineers. I was beginning to panic. I heard the order to abandon ship, but it wasn't until Jack grabbed me and pulled me towards a hatch that I realised the extent of what was happening. Even so, I was fighting with him, arguing that I couldn't leave Kathryn, I couldn't leave you, till an explosion ripped Engineering apart. Then I knew that there was no way that anyone could have survived that."

His eyes looked a little damper then normal as he continued his tale.

"We made it to a pod, the last one to be launched before the ship blew. The explosion threw us a long way, knocking out engines, propulsion, helm and the sensor array. We crash landed on a planet and fought for our survival for nearly a week in freezing conditions with only a few rations. Jack was injured in the crash, he didn't make it. The Einstein eventually picked us up but I found that the mental wounds were a lot harder to deal with then the physical. Your name wasn't on the survivors list either and I was devastated. I would have proposed to you that night," he admitted with a slight laugh. "Things could have been so much different couldn't they?"

Kathryn stared at him incredulously. "You were going to ask me to marry you?" she asked slowly, wondering if she had heard him correctly.

He nodded. "Even had a ring," he admitted sheepishly.

She watched stunned as he pulled a chain out from around his neck. A ring hung at the end of it, it's diamonds sparkling in the starlight. Reaching over he showed it to her.

"It's beautiful," she whispered too overwhelmed to say any more.

"I've worn it ever since," he admitted. "It was the only thing that I had to remind me of you."

She smiled at his blatant sentimentality.

"What happened after that then?" she questioned quickly. "Why the Maquis and the tattoo?"

"I tried to return to Starfleet," he sighed, "even got a promotion, but my heart was no longer in it, so I resigned and went home. I made peace with my father, took the tattoo and got a job ferrying supplies from DS9 to the planets near my home. Then it all changed. The Federation signed a deal with the Cardassians, handing my home and many others over to the Cardassians. Starfleet tried to get them to leave, leave their homes, but many refused, preferring to take their own chances. So the Cardassians killed them all."

There was silence for a moment as Kathryn tried to absorb what he was saying.

"I was on DS9 at the time and was devastated when I heard. I had lost everything by then to the Cardassians. My family, my home, my Kathryn, so I joined the Maquis and the rest I suppose is what they call history, till we were kidnapped by the Caretaker and I was brought face to face with the one woman I had believed dead for so long. I thought I was dreaming at first," he admitted with a slight smile. "Then I was on your bridge, next to you and I knew then that it wasn't a dream. But then I heard you had a daughter and I thought that any chance of us... was over anyway, especially as you were assigned to turn me in." His voice sounded slightly bitter as he spoke that last sentence.

"I didn't know Chakotay," she replied softly. "It wasn't like that, I didn't have much chose. Tuvok was reassigned without my permission and when I accepted Voyager all I had been told was that I was to track down some Maquis. How was I supposed to know that it was the man I had thought dead for so long. I cried the day I found out. Happiness that you were alive, sadness that I hadn't known sooner, disappointment, grief, anger... I felt it all."

There was a look of raw emotion in her eyes right at that moment. She was telling the truth.

"What about now Kathryn," he asked. "What happens now? Are you going to chuck all of us in the brig for the next seventy years?"

Smiling slightly she shook her head, more then aware of the way he had said 'us'.

"Voyager's brig isn't big enough," she smiled. "Not that I would try that anyway. No, the only chance we have of surviving the Delta Quadrant and getting home is to work together. Become one crew."

"Work together?" he repeated rising his eyebrows.

She nodded.

"I want to offer them... to offer you the chance to join Voyager, become one crew."

He laughed. "You're kidding right?"

She wasn't.

"It won't work Kathryn," he objected rising to his feet to face her.

"Why won't it?" she asked adamant.

"Because your Starfleet, and we're Maquis," he replied. "There are too many differences."

Rising she joined him.

"Differences can be good Chakotay," she urged. "If we all work to the same goal and try hard enough, we'll make it work."

He had to smile at the passion in her voice. Now that was the Kathryn Janeway had remembered.

"We?" he asked with a smile, wondering if she was actually speaking with a double meaning.

She nodded. "If we work together," she repeated, "this could work."

Rising his eyebrows he crossed his arms. "And how do you propose to go about this 'working together'?

"As equals Chakotay. We'll share Command. I'll still be the Captain, but the responsibilities will be both of ours."

"And how do you propose to do that?" he asked almost jokingly.

She tipped her head as she gazed at him. "Simple Commander," she replied with the hint of a smile. "As a Captain and First Officer."

He stared at her blankly for a minute. "You're... you're offering me the position of First Officer?" he questioned hoarsely.

She nodded.

"Think you can handle it?" she taunted.

He smiled. "You're serious aren't you."

"As marriage," came the reply. "So you think it could work then?"

He eyed her carefully.

"Give me the chance to allow my crew to sleep on it," he offered. "I'll tell you in the morning."

She nodded as he moved to the door.

"Agreed," she called as it opened. "Just don't talk about it in your sleep."

Turning suddenly, he stopped, his face suddenly serious.

"Taking about sleep Kathryn," the smile had faded from his face. "I need to know, has there been anyone else since?"

She held his gaze for a moment before answering.

"No Chakotay, there has always only been you."

The smile returned to his face, before he nodded and turned to leave.

*-*-*

Janeway looked up from her work as she heard the chime to her ready room door ring.

"Come in."

Tom Paris did, his trade mark smile already on his face as he answered.

"You wanted to see me Captain?"

"Mr Paris," she replied crossing to stand at the front of her desk, "you have a problem." Well that was one way of putting it at least. "I've invited Chakotay and the other Maquis to become members of this crew. It seemed the only reasonable thing to do under the circumstances."

Tom's posture seemed to change as he took as breath and folded his arms.

"Will you provide a body guard for me Captain?" he asked dryly.

Janeway frowned slightly as he recalled a conversation from earlier that very day.

"It seems you already have one," she admitted.

"I do?" he questioned a look of surprise on his boyish face.

"Mr Chakotay said something about his life belonging to you. He'll be taking responsibility for your safety."

Paris almost grinned. "I think I'm going to enjoy this," he admitted his eyes twinkling slightly.

"Don't be too sure," she replied, "he'll also be my First Officer. Everyone aboard this ship will report to him, including the Lieutenant assigned to conn."

He stared at her blankly for a moment before saying, "Me?"

She nodded. "I've entered into the ship's log that I'm granting a field commission of Lieutenant to Thomas Eugene Paris." Holding out her hand, her face said it all, breaking into a pleasant grin. "Congratulations."

He was stunned. "Umm..." he managed before laughing slightly. "For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say."

"You've earned it Tom," she ginned. "I'm just sorry that your father won't know."

Walking towards the door, he turned to smile at her. "Oh he'll know," he corrected. "When we get back."

Moving out he passed two people hurrying in.

"Arh Captain," the little Talaxian smiled seeing her. "We were just coming to see you."

"We've supplied your ship with water Neelix," she replied, "it's ready to go."

"Well... urm... that's what we wanted to discuss," he admitted. "We'd like to go with you."

No way!

Quickly she shook her head. "I'm sorry, this isn't a passenger ship."

"Of course not," Kes objected beside him. "We won't be passengers."

"We'll be valuable colleges," Neelix continued.

"Colleges?"

He nodded. "What ever you need is what I have to offer. You need a guide, I'm your guide. You need supplies, I know how to precure them. I have friends among races you don't even know exist yet. You need a cook... oh you haven't lived till you've tasted my ungla bask. It will be my job to anticipate your needs before you know you have them. And I anticipate your first need... will be me."

Undoubtedly.

"Captain, we both want very much to be apart of your journey," the young Ocampa offered, her blue eyes wide.

Well, if you put it that way, Janeway did not have much chose. She nodded.

*-*-*

The dawn of a new era... sort of.

Janeway stood at the centre of and looked proudly round her Bridge. They were all there. Tom Paris in his red and black at the front. B'Elanna Torres wearing gold and black hovering nearby with Tuvok matching stood further back at tactical. Young Harry Kim was back at his post, joined by a Maquis crewman who was to share the post. Neelix and Kes were positioned nearby, but best of all, right beside her stood Chakotay, handsomely sporting his new black and red command uniform, his posture proud. So far so good.

Repairs had been completed and they were finally able to begin the journey that would last a life time.

"We're alone," she admitted addressing the entire bridge, "in an uncharted part of the galaxy. We've already made some friends here," she continued her eyes resting on her new volunteered guide, "and some enemies. We have no idea of the dangers we're going to face," she said scanning the bridge to meet everyone's eyes. "But one thing is clear, both crews are going to have to work together if we're to survive. That's why Commander Chakotay and I have agreed that this should be one crew, a Starfleet crew. And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive. To seek out new worlds and explore space. But our primary goal is clear. Even at maximum speeds, it would take seventy-five years to reach the Federation, but I'm not willing to settle for that. There is another entity like the Caretaker out there somewhere who has the ability to get us there a lot faster. We'll be looking for her and we'll be looking for wormholes and spacial rifts, or new technologies to help us."

Looking up, she stared at the view screen at the front.

"Somewhere," she added almost wistfully, "along this journey, we'll find a way back."

Her head snapped back down to take action.

"Mr Paris," she ordered leaning on the rail behind him. "Set a course... for home."

And even as he replied, she turned and caught Chakotay's eyes and smiled slightly.

Together, they had vowed, somehow, they would make this work.

*-*-*

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